microRNAs in the Regulation of Melanogenesis.

Melanogenesis is the process leading to the synthesis of melanin, the main substance that influences skin color and plays a pivotal role against UV damage. Altered melanogenesis is observed in several pigmentation disorders. Melanogenesis occurs in specialized cells called melanocytes, physically and functionally related by means of autocrine and paracrine interplay to other skin cell types. Several external and internal factors control melanin biosynthesis and operate through different intracellular signaling pathways, which finally leads to the regulation of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), the key transcription factor involved in melanogenesis and the expression of the main melanogenic enzymes, including TYR, TYRP-1, and TYRP-2. Epigenetic factors, including microRNAs (miRNAs), are involved in melanogenesis regulation. miRNAs are small, single-stranded, non-coding RNAs, of approximately 22 nucleotides in length, which control cell behavior by regulating gene expression, mainly by binding the 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) of target mRNAs. This review collects data on the miRNAs involved in melanogenesis and how these miRNAs can modulate target gene expression. Bringing to light the biological function of miRNAs could lead to a wider understanding of epigenetic melanogenesis regulation and its dysregulation. This knowledge may constitute the basis for developing innovative treatment approaches for pigmentation dysregulation.

Efficacy of a new combination of a microemulsion and oral supplementation for androgenetic alopecia: an interventional multicentric study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to study new therapeutic options for the treatment of female and male androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and to assess the efficacy of a possible new coadjuvant oral and topical therapy, containing a complex of natural substances. METHODS: Sixty individuals affected by mild-to-moderate female and male AGA were enrolled in the study and underwent the oral and topical treatment with a microemulsion formulation for 6 months. At baseline and at 3- and 6-month follow-up, global photographs were taken and three expert operators evaluated photographs using the 7-point scale. On a subgroup of our sample, non-invasive phototrichograms with TrichoScan® HD at baseline and follow-ups were performed to collect the trichological parameters of total number of hairs, hair density/cm2, vellus hair density/cm2, terminal hair density/cm2 and hair thickness. One-way ANOVA and Unpaired Student t-test were performed to analyze the data. RESULTS: Using the 7-point scale, a clinically visible improvement of hair loss was observed after three and six months of treatment. A statistically significant increase of all TrichoScan® trichological parameters was observed at both 3- and 6 month-follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The complex of natural and active substances tested in this work showed good efficacy in improving both male and female hair loss. These new products could represent a valid alternative or coadjuvant therapy of AGA, increasing the efficacy of conventional treatments such as minoxidil or finasteride.

Bis(dimethylsulfoxide)carbonateplatinum(ii), a new synthon for a low-impact, versatile synthetic route to anticancer Pt carboxylates.

The work describes a new low-impact synthetic route to Pt(ii)-carboxylate complexes, a class of compounds provided with established anticancer activity. The process is based on the ligand substitution on [PtCO3(Me2SO-S)2] (), a new synthon that can be easily prepared in water with high yield, is stable as a solid, and is reactive in solution where all its ligands can be easily replaced. It reacts with acidic O-donors releasing CO2 as the only side-product, whose development also supplies a driving force toward the products. The substitution of carbonate led to new Pt-DMSO carboxylate complexes , while the total substitution of the ligands of complex gave new Pt-phosphino carboxylates in high yields. The X-ray crystal structures of complexes [Pt(d(-)-quinate-O,O')(Me2SO-S)2] (), [Pt(salicylate)(Me2SO-S)2] () and [Pt(salicylate)(PPh3)2] () were determined. The tests of the antiproliferative activity of complexes on two human tumoral cell lines, A2780 (cisplatin-sensitive) and SKOV-3 (cisplatin-resistant), showed that the PTA (PTA = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane) complexes were the most active on both cell lines.